Chain drive for universal selectors



June 27, 1950 G. DEAKIN CHAIN DRIVE FOR UNIVERSAL SELECTORS Filed Sept. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gem/a Dew/rm ATTORNEY June 27, 1950 G.- DEAKIN CHAIN DRIVE FOR UNIVERSAL, SELECTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1946 INVENTOR. Gem/a Bea/rm as p w RS ATTORNEY G. DEAKIN CHAIN DRIVE FOR UNIVERSAL SELECTORS June 27, 1950 4 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Sept. 14, 1946 .FIIPL wt vi mvsmon. Gerald Oea/rm BY WW A ATTORNEY June 27,-1950 G. IDEAKIN CHAIN DRIVE FOR UNIVERSAL SELECTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 14, 1946 INVENTOR. Gem/d Dew/rm ATTORNEY Patente d June 27, 1 950 UNITE n no STATES PATENT? or e- 2,512,612 I onnm naive FOR" timiiasrns'iiincroas' Gerald Deakin; New York, N Qaarsignnr winter-- national; Standard Electric Germination; New- York, N. Y a corporation of- Delaware a plicationseptemteum, 19 SerialNb': SW14? 16 Claims.

This inventionrelates tomeans for drivingreciprocatory' carriages such as brush carriages of selector'switches; for example switches of this character used in automatic telephone systems asfinder switches. group selectors, final connectors, marking switches- 01- the' like.

An important object of the invention is to provideanendlesschain drive which is novel and advantageous in construction and operation, which is easy to assemble and economical to manuiacture and which will operate satisfactorily over long periods of service witha minimumof attention.

Another objectof the invention is toprovide a reciprocatory-lcarriage drive whereby the carriage is iecip-rocated across a flat terminal bank byconnecting saidcarriage alternately to parallel runsof an endless chainwhich is operated 'in one-direction only.

Another object of the invention is: to provide means for connecting a reciprocatory carriage to either run of an endless chain to impart the corresponding direction of movement to said carriage.

Still another object-ofthe invention isto pro vantageous means for shifting said connecting means. p

A further object of the invention is to provide driving means for a reciprocatory carriage including an endless flexible element andnovel means for mounting the same.-

Asti-llfurther object of theinvention is to pro vide driving means. for a reciprocatorycarriage includingan endless flexible element and novelmeans for driving thesame.

Other objects, features: and advantages will appear upon consideration ofthe following de-- tailed description and :ofthe drawings; in which; 1 isa front'elevation partl inisection of a brush carriage drive unit;

Fig, 2 is-a bottom plan -view, partly in section; of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is -afragmentary-"viewon a= larger scale ofthe brush carriagea-nd supportinameans of- Fig. 1;

2 Fig: 4 is en view" or the structure of Fi'g'.-- 3 as" viewedfiroiff the right;

Fig-1- 5 is a; larger" scale or thbruslr earnageanu s a e ting means in Fi. 2'

'- biit- Witlt the s'l' liftiiigdevice turfiecl in the op po'site' direction;-

Fig? 6 is fragmentar we plan View, partly insection; on the brusfr carriage;

Fig. 7= isa View simian to 6' but' the clutch shiftedin t opposite direction;

Fig. 8 1s" a y'- vertical section;

Fig; 9 is a we plan or the i ight end as semen containing-Z triesprocket Wfiiel; partially broken away;

Fig. 10 13 Vi'W' iHll ting the mounting of the" rigl-it en'd sprocket; and- I v Fig? 1=1 is a view Dal'tISI in vertical section to illustrate the-mounting o'f the'r-ig hfi-and left end sprocket Wheels'; I

Referring-to:thadnawingsgabrush carriage l3; isslidablyi mounted unper' and: lower rods It and r5 respectivelizi- I members ["6 and W of the frame Of tT'IB" cair' g brush carriage F3 includes a central blocl l8 and front and rear plaits' l9 and Z0 respecn'vm Between" the lower ends of said front and rearplates l9 and- '20 are" blocks '21 with Sean; loylindrical' grooves receiving the lowe ro'a l5 and -3 between the" uppenparts of said none a-fi'd rear plates: are" slidably mounted kilo'cl's- 2'2 hav-' iiig seini=cylindricali3 grooves attheir utter sides to receive the rod: [4"; v

These" blocks 22* are 151"essi aig 'ainst said upper rod 14 by suitable meanS SliEha'sw'spring-23 (Fllg'u 8)'= looped 'ove'r a pin 24 supportedby said plates: I9 and 28, and having" its-" ends engaging the" lower partsof" said blbck's H-i 'rne'up blocks 22* are thus maintained: in engagement with the rod M und'en' nonnal' conditio'ns; arrangement also facilitates insemonor removal of a brush carriage, as- 'by upward movement ofthecarriage to fie'x the" spring 23 and free the lower edge of thewar-iiage which can tlihbe swung out and the carriage removed; This. actionncan be'reversed'. "The rear plate fifha's at the upper and lowenen'ds' of its vertical part rear ward lyr projecting upper": and lower" parts" 25 =and 26'betweeri which is' lo'cated ar -hrush unit 21- coniprising brushes 28 and'=brush *spreaders' 29. 'me brushes: cooperate with terminals 30" of afl a t tei' mihal bafrik 3 0 The bi ush' unit and the fiat terrninal hank wil-l-not-be described further inas much as they are described and claimed w icompanion'='applicatioii Serb No? 579,367;- filed ing 34 carried by the end plate H and the sleeve 34 passes through the bottom of the housing and is secured thereto. At the lower end of the said sleeve 34 the pin 33 has fixed thereon a rotatable element 35 which comprises a thin central gear 36 between disks 3! and 3B which serve to maintain engagement between the gear 36 and a flexible driving gear 39.

At the right-hand end of the apparatus the chain passes around a sprocket 40 mounted on a pin M which is rotatable in blocks 46 and 4'! above and below the same. These blocks are mounted in upper and lower guideways 48 and 49 so that the blocks can slide in one direction to relieve tens-ion on the chain and in the other direction to increase the tension. Said guideways are at the interior of a housing 50 for the right hand sprocket 43. Each of these blocks is urged to the right to tension the chain by means of a spring secured to the housing 50.

As shown in Fig. 2 the flexible drive gear 39 is driven by a gear 52 and a constantly rotating shaft 53. Normally the flexible gear 39 is flexed out of mesh with gear 52 but when a call is started as by dialing, the flexible gear 39 is released and meshes with the said gear 52, being tensioned against a disk 54 or backstop which maintains it in mesh with the gear 52. This arrangement has been used heretofore and is disclosed in my said companion application Ser. No. 579,367. The brush carriage [3 will then travel back and forth until terminal selection is effected, whereupon the flexible gear 39 will be flexed out of mesh with gear 52.

The flexible gear 39 is held at its central portion between two disks 60 fixed to the lower end of a sleeve 6| rotatable on a ivot 62 extending downwardly from a bar 63 beneath and adjustably secured to a fiat projection 64 from the end member ll of the frame of the brush carriage unit. As illustrated, this adjustable connection is effected by means including stud-bolts 65 fitting in openings in projection 54 and passing loosely through openings in bar 63, and suitable nuts on said stud-bolts.

' The ends I6 and ll of the frame of the brush carriage unit are secured in any suitable manner to uprights 56 and 61 of a main frame within which said flat bank 30' is mounted. Other flat banks may be mounted above or below the one shown in the bottom view of Fig. 2. Also additional flat banks 30 facing in the opposite'direction may be actuated from said shaft 53 through suitably positioned gears 52 fixed thereon.

As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, one run or reach of the chain 3| is just to the front of plate l9 and the other run is just to the rear of plate 20. Just above the lower face of said block l8 and at the right (Fig 3), the plates 19 and 20 are clamped against the opposite faces of block I8 by two bolts 68. These bolts pass through a small plate 69 at the front of plate l9, block l8, plate 29 and the lower plate-like portion of a bracket and are secured in position by means of nuts H. The bracket 70 has an outset upper part just at the outside of the adjacent reach of the chain 3! to prevent outward movement thereof. At the opposite end of the block, there isa front bracket 13 which is secured to the central block is by a bolt and a nut '16 on the shank of the bolt. The bracket 13 has an outset upper part just outside the adjacent run of the chain 3|. As will appear more fully hereinafter the guards or outset portions of the brackets act to maintain the adjacent runs of the chain in proper positions relative to chain-holding or v chain-grasping means to be described hereinafter.

As illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the chaingrasping means comprises a right hand gripping lever Bil pivoted near its left end on said block [8 and a left hand gripping lever 8| pivoted near its right end to said block. At their inner ends said levers have a pivotal connection whereby movement of the outer end of one lever toward one run of the chain will cause a movement of the outer end of the other lever from the other run of the chain. As illustrated, the inner end of lever is narrowed and terminates in a part-circular end 82 projecting into a part-circular recess 83 in the inner end of the other lever 8|.

The right hand lever 80 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) is pivoted on the upper end of the shank of a bolt 84. Said shank extends upwardly through a bore in the block 18, the head of bolt 84 being enclosed in a, countersunk recess at the lower end of said bore. Above the upper surface of said block, said shank passes through a washer 85 which serves as a wear plate on which said lever 80 rests, and then through an opening in the lever 80. This lever is held on the shank by a nut 86. The lever Si is mounted in a similar manner on a bolt 81 passing upwardly through a washer 88 and the lever Bl, and having thereon a nut 89 above the lever.

Projecting rearwardly from the outer end of lever 80 is a lug or gripping head 9!] having at its rear edge a straight line of rounded-end teeth 9! having rounded-bottom recesses 92 therebetween. The lug projects at all times through an opening 93. in the rear plate 20. Similarly the lever 8i has a lug or gripper head 94 projecting forwardly through an opening 95 in plate 19 and having at its forward edge a straight row of rounded-end teeth 96 with rounded-bottom recesses 9'! therebetween. Said straight rows of teeth are so positioned on the levers that they will lie along the runs of the chain when in engagement therewith.

Said straight toothed edges cooperate to advantage with a chain of the type disclosed, in which the links are connected at the edges of the chain and the central portion of the ladderlike structure is made up of cross members or rungs I00, one for each link Hll. As illustrated (Fig. 3) each link is formed of a single wire with a, broad base I00 and inwardly inclined sides I02 which are turned back around said broad base of the next link. The single wire of any of said broad bases is substantially of the right size to fit in a recess between two of said teeth. 01" course, if the chain be under suiilcient tension, engagement of a run of the chain by the toothed end of one of said levers would not cause the chain to engage the bracket or guard at the outside thereof. Otherwise the chain would be pressed against the adjacent bracket and the chain would be gripped between the bracket and the toothed end or head of the lever.

- Operation otthe1evers 80 anditl may beet fe'cted'by means of a finger H13 (Figs. 6; Hand. 8 projecting from the outer end of lever'B i into anelongated horizontal slotllld in an upward extension )5 of a generally horizontallever arm 1136 pivoted on the shank of a bolt It? midway Joe-- tween the bolts 8d and 8-2 and inserted from above through a suitable bore extending downwardl'y from a head in a countersunk recess. Awasher M8 is locatedbetween the lever arm 1 and block 8 and the armms isheld on the bolt by a nut 108a. Another lever arm H19 extends forwardly from said lever arm E65 and forms therewith a lever lid. At the front, thelever arm I09 is turned down and supports in a substantially vertical plane across -member or shifter bar iii having outwardly inclined ends l-tlial At the outer faces of said inclined ends are leaf. springs H2 which flare outwardly fromsaid inclined. ends.

In; the. bottom view of Fig. 2 the brush carriage. is arranged to move to. the leitand is connected toi-the lower run of the endless chain at the rear end of the block. At this time thel'ower run (Fig. 2). will be moving to the left. The left hand; sprocket 32 will be turning clockwise (Fig.

.2), the flexible gear 3.9 will'be. turning counterclockwise and the driving gear 52- will be. turning clockwise. However, if the brush carriage unit were inverted the main shaft would necessarily turn in the counter-clockwise direction.

As thebrush carriage l3 approaches the. left end of its path, the leading spring i it will strike a roller M3 on a pin mounted in the frame and will cushion the blow until the spring is flattened against the outer face of the corresponding inclined end Mia of the shifter bar H l. The rocking of the lever lit aboutthe pivot. or bolt 30'! will eventually cause one end of slot. lll l;..to engagethe finger Hi3 andshift levers 8t and 80. It should be noted that the, trailing gripper lever is always the effective one, whichtends to maintaina connection.

The completion of a change .of connection. is assured by a snap action device. To this end the upturned extension or endof lever arm H16. is, provided at the inner surface thereof midway between its edges, with a part sphere 5 M adapted to: ride over a ball H5 ina bore lit and urged outwardly by a helical spring I l I. It will be evident (Fig. 6) that the clockwise swing of arm l at and upward projection H95 with slot H14 therein will have no effect on finger its until the trailing end of the slot strikes the finger IE3 as the part sphere M4 is about to ride over. the springpressed ball lie. Thenthe spring-pressedball wi11 effect a rapid movement of the arm wt to its final position and gripping of the other reach of the chain toreverse the direction of the carriage l3 from left to right. When, the carriage l3 reaches. the right hand end of its path, the shifter bar; It! will be swung in the opposite direction by means of a roller Heat the right of Fig. 2 thus changing the direction of movement from right. to, left.

The manner of mounting guide-rod-engaging blocks 2! and 22 in the selector carriage i3 is most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 8. Each block [has at its bottom (Figs. viand 5) a partcylindrical groove 52d to fit on the lower guide rod l5, and front and rear tongues Hi. ,The front tongue iZi of each block occupies a slot l22 in one of two downwardly projecting branches 123 and lid of front plate is, branch 23 being shown t the. rightand branch,l .2jfl being'shown-atthe left ct Fig.3. The rear tongue Ill: of each block ocoupiesa slot I25 in the platezll'.

At the top. of: the selector carriage, the blocks 22 have at front and: back tong/ ues. 26 which fit into slots I215 in the front and rear plates I19 and Eli/These blocks .22 are urged upwardly by. spring 23- to seat guide rod Mi in part-cylindrical grooves l'28'in said blocks 22'. It should be notedthat the slots lazl in-plates i9 and 2tshouldtbe deep enough to enable the lower blocks. 2:5 tobe moved sidewisef'rom the lower guide rod l5 when the carriageis lifted as far as possible against the action of said spring 23.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the; brush. unit; 2! is-supported. between rearward extensions 25 and 2&Jfrom the upper and lower parts respectively of the rear plate 2d of the brush carriage. The central portion of the plate 2d between the; lower slots 922- extends downwardly and rearwardly substantially at the level of the top of guide rod Mythere: it. is widened at 26. andprovided-with two parallel branches i253 and M29. The branch iZBis, provided with three circular openings 53min a line and the branch 529 is provided with keyhole slots ltl; for use in securing the brush unit to the-brushcarriage. At. the upper part of the brush carriage; the central portion of the plate between the upperslots I26 is turned rearwardly atthelevel of the top of guide rod Hi to provide the part2 5 which may be of the generalfork shape :as the part 26.

The flexible gear 39 may normally be flexed out'of mesh with gear 52 by means of an arm I32. However, starting of a call as by dialling will cause relief of the pressure of the arm I32 on flexiblesgear 38 and meshing of gear 39 with gear 52. The controlling means for the flexible gear may-be. substantially the same as in my said eompanion..application Ser. No. 519,367. As indi oated n Fig. 2.- by the position of shifter bar lit, the "brush carriage it is connected to the lower runof chain 3i (Fig. 2). The brush carriage is then driven to the left until the left hand spring itl engages the roller l l, thus starting shiftingof theshift bar or member I l l and exerting a cushioning action until the spring lies flat against the correspondinginclined end I I la of the shift bar. :In this way the entire lever l lilis shifted about pivot lm'until the trailing end of slot 1M engages pin I03 and shifts lever to withdraw the toothed head 9.8 from the front run of chain 3| and, with the assistance of the snap devicectimprisinga half sphere H4 on end of arm I05 and a spring-supported ball H5, to engage the toothed head 94 with the rear run. As soon as the half sphere H4 passes the center of ball l l5, theaball; i IE will be moved outwardly by the pressure of the spring H6 and the shifting. will be completed with the toothed head 94 in engage ment with the other run of the chain. The carriage 13 will: travel back and forth in thismanher until; a brush 28 engages a selectorterminal connected to a vaoantline, whereupon theflexiblegear-is shiftedout of mesh with the gear-52, thus stopping the carriage in the position at which said connection was completed. The carriagewill, remain in this position until it is again put. into operation-.by starting a call.

There is. avery compact assembly of the central blochlS of the carriage: and the chaingrasping means due partly to the pivoting of the levers 80. anol:8.l ontheupper edge of the block. l8 with the corresponding grasping or gripping. heads at and- 94 inrslots oropenings 93 and 95in plates inland lgarespectively. Alsofthe;operatinglever ho is pivoted on the bottom of said block I8 with its arm H16 extending along the bottom of the block and said upright extension along one end of the block, thus economizing space at the side of the carriage body. Also the snap and detent means including the part spherical projection H4 on extension I05 and the ball H5 pressed outwardly by spring H6, which acts when arm IDS is moved past its central position is located at the end of the block and does not project outwardly beyond the plates l9 and 20.

As will be understood, the chain 3| should be substantially unstretchable.

It should be understood that many changes can be made and that various features may be used without others without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating the same including a flexible element with two oppositely movable runs and driven in one direction only, and a pair of gripping levers arranged end to end between said runs and pivoted to said carriage at their inner ends, connections between the inner ends of said gripping levers whereby movement of one of said levers away from the corresponding run will move the other lever toward the other run, a finger extending from the outer end of one lever beyond the end of the carriage, and an actuating lever mounted on said carriage and having an arm movable in a plane parallel to the plane of said gripping levers, said arm having an offset outer end with a lost motion connection to said finger.

2. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating the same including a flexible element with two oppositely movable runs and driven in one direction only, and a pair of gripping levers arranged end to end and pivoted on said carriage at their inner ends, a connection between said inner ends whereby movement of one of said levers away from a run will move the other lever toward the other run, operating means for said gripping levers including an arm pivoted on said carriage at a different level and having a pin and slot connection with the outer end of one of said gripping levers, actuating means for said arm including parts operated at the ends of the carriage path to shift said gripping levers and reverse the direction of said carriage.

3. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating the same including a flexible element with two oppositely movable runs and driven in one direction only, and a pair of gripping levers arranged end to end and connected at their inner ends whereby movement of one of said levers away from a run will move the other lever toward the other run, operating means for said gripping levers including an arm pivoted on said carriage at a difierent level and having a pin and slot connection with the outer end of one of said gripping levers, actuating means for said arm including parts at the ends of the carriage path to shift said gripping levers and reverse the direction of said carriage and a snapover device at the end of the carriage where said arm is connected to a gripping lever to urge the lever to its final position and yieldingly retain it there.

4. In a selector switch for automatic telephone systems and the like, a reciprocatory brush carriage, an endless driving chain having parallel oppositely-moving runs at opposite sides of said carriage and at'the level of the top thereof, two gripping levers pivoted at their inner ends on said top and extending in opposite directions along the same, connections between the inner ends of said gripping levers for concomitant movement of said levers in opposite directions, a

finger extending outwardly from one of said gripping levers, an arm pivoted on the bottom of saidcarriage near its center and extending to the end thereof beneath said finger where it has an upward extension, a pin and slot connection between said upward extension and said finger, and means for shifting said arm at the ends of the carriage path to change the connection of the carriage from one run to the other.

5. In a selector switch for automatic telephone systems and the like, a reciprocatory carriage, an endless driving chain having parallel oppositely-moving runs at opposite sides of said carriage, two oppositely extending gripping levers pivoted on said carriage at the level of said runs, connections between the inner ends of said gripping levers for movement in opposite directions, a laterally projecting head at the outer end of each gripping lever with rounded-end low teeth and corresponding rounded bottom depressions therebetween to facilitate rapid engagement and disengagement of the chain and said heads, and means effective at the ends of the carriage path for eifecting rapid engagement and disengagement of said heads and chain comprising a finger projecting from one of said gripping levers, an operating lever on said carriage having a slot receiving said pin and shifting the same only when an end of the slot strikes the pin, and detent means pressed back by said operating lever and then acting to complete the lever stroke and retain said operating lever in one of its limiting positions.

6. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating the same comprising an endless flexible element with two oppositely-movable parallel runs and means for al-' ternately connecting said carriage to said runs comprising a connection-shifting arm pivoted on said carriage and extending laterally from the carriage path, a transverse shifter member with diverging ends carried by said arm cushion means carried by said ends, and fixed members at the ends of the carriage path to engage said diverging ends alternately and swing said arm accordingly, whereby said member is shifted without vibration.

'7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cushion means comprises a leaf spring at the outer face of each of said diverging ends and secured to said shifter member with its inner end against the inner end of the corresponding one of said diverging ends and with a free outer end diverging therefrom.

8. The combination according to claim 6 wherein there is a snap-action device for completing the throw of said arm when it is carried past center.

9. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating the same including a chain with two oppositely movable runsand driven in one direction only, two chain-gripping members; connections between said chaingripping members whereby movement of either one toward the corresponding run will move the other away from the othe run; a finger connected to said members to operate the same and extending beyond one end of the carriage; an actuating lever pivoted on said carriage and comprising an arm extending along said carriage and beyond the same end as said finger and having a lost motion connection to said finger, and a second arm substantially perpendicular to the first provided at its outer end with a transverse shifter bar with diverging ends, and fixed members at the ends of the carriage path to engage said diverging ends alternately.

10. The combination of a reciprocatory carriage and means for reciprocating said carriage including an endless flexible element with two oppositely moving parallel runs, gripper members on said carriage, one for each element run, means for operating said gripper members alternately to engage said runs including a finger projecting from one end of the carriage and finger operating means including an arm pivoted on said carriage and projecting laterally therefrom, a shifter bar on the outer end of said arm GERALD DEAKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 520,827 Koss June 5, 1894 1,285,628 Craley Nov. 26, 1918 1,487,373 Deakin Mar. '18, 1924 1,555,341 Waters Sept. 29, 1925 1,774,356 Cloud Aug. 26, 1930 2,224,431 Heginbotham et a1. Dec. 10, 1940 2,415,233 Brustowsky Feb. 4, 1947 

